Library

Cheng Xuan of Xin'an was deeply versed in medicine and authored the *Medical Cases* (*Yi An*), elucidating medical principles with great detail. This led me to reflect that among medical texts, the *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) and *Su Wen* (Basic Questions) are the most ancient. Although I dare not assert definitively that they were written after the time of Shennong, it is beyond doubt that they were composed by those proficient in these arts during the Warring States period. From this, we can infer that the discussions on medicine by Yi He and Yi Huan in the *Zuo Zhuan* commentary on the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, and further back to the duties of physicians, dietitians, and surgeons recorded in the *Rites of Zhou*, where it speaks of diseases arising from yin, yang, wind, rain, darkness, and brightness, and changes in the nine orifices and nine viscera, all use concise language yet cover comprehensive meanings, exhausting the principles of medicine. Later authors have produced works of varying quality, often overlapping in content. Mr. Cheng removed the shortcomings and collected the strengths, demonstrating particularly insightful understanding. The book *Medical Cases* can be said to be worthy of transmission alongside the *Ling Shu* and *Su Wen*.
Mengxia Month, 10th Year of Jiaqing, Liu Quanzhi of Changsha

Cheng Xuan (courtesy name Aimian, pseudonym Miao) lamented the scarcity of the Qi-Huang tradition. Books like the *Su Wen* and *Ling Shu* seem distant and remote. Mr. Cheng Xuan possessed extraordinary insight surpassing the world, and profound thought exceeding ordinary people. He excelled in poetry like Pan Yue and Lu Ji, and mastered the healing arts of Yu Fu and Bian Que. Throughout his life, his treatments for illnesses often yielded miraculous effects; some involved striking the back to expel blood, others using water poured on the head for emergency rescue. His reputation spread across a thousand li within his region. I once suffered from a critical condition and relied on him to survive; thus, our friendship became as solid as orchids and gold, and my gratitude runs deep into flesh and bone. On leisure days, I visited him, and he showed me his compiled medical cases. Reviewing them, extracting the essentials was like grasping the pearl of wisdom; delving into the obscure was like Ji Chang threading an arrow through a louse. His ability to revive the dead and rejuvenate the decayed was manifold. Observing complexion and examining fine hairs, his exceptional achievements were repeatedly demonstrated. Even the works of Ge Hong's Golden Cabinet, the secrets of Sun Simiao's Dragon Palace, the records of the Hermit's Materia Medica, and the collected verified cases of Xuan Gong, pale in comparison to this work. Overwhelmed with admiration, I withdrew to write this preface. It is indeed capable of saving those with terminal ailments; please have it engraved and published.
Longxia (Mid-Summer), Gengshen Year of Jiaqing, Your humble brother Bao Guixing

Zi Hua Zi said: "Medicine is about principle (*Li*) and intuition/mind-intent (*Yi*)." When principles are clear, intent is attained; when intent is attained, pulse diagnosis and prescription formulation will hit the mark without fail. In this way, calling someone a national master physician is not difficult; my clansman, Mr. Xuanxuan, is such a person. The Master was naturally intelligent, skilled in poetry, and practiced medicine as a form of reclusion. When treating patients, he achieved immediate results upon applying his hands. My contemporary friend Bao Juesheng once suffered from a critical illness and was revived thanks to the Master; his mother praised him incessantly. One day, the Master presented his written medical cases and requested a preface from me. Upon receiving and reading them, I saw that his pulse diagnosis and prescription formulation deeply understood the ancient principles of "Four Confirmations and Two Reversals" (*Si Ran Er Fan*), and he divinely applied his intent. Therefore, I marveled at the precision of his art, which far surpassed what ordinary practitioners holding canonical formulas and practicing acupuncture could hope to match. Thus, this book may well be considered an alternate record of Tong Jun (a mythical figure associated with the origins of Chinese medicine) or a lost chapter of Yue Ren (Bian Que).
Year Goumeng, Chifenruo, 10th Year of Jiaqing, Heqiao Guoren respectfully wrote.